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Surgeon Testimonial

Charles Bollman, M.D.
*Note Dr. Bollman and Dr. Stevens did the surgery together. Dr. Stevens was my primary surgeon for aftercare.*rnrn Dr. Stevens is small in stature. Not intimidating. Dr. Stevens was very up front about the risks of the surgery and that this has to be a life style change. Also stressing that this shouldn't be a decision that one should consider lightly.The two doctors (Dr. Charles Bollman and Dr. Scott Stevens) that do this surgery at Geary County Community Hospital in Junction City KS; are truly dedicated to making the morbid obese person's life longer and more productive. These two doctors were doing this long before others jumped on the money making band wagon. They both show the precise amount of knowledge, care and compassion to make every patient feel like their only patient. I would rate these doctors 20 on a scale of 1-10. I would not intrust my life in the hands of any other doctor('s) for this procedure. I also have to note that Eileen (Dr. Boleman's nurse) and Karla (Dr. Steven's nurse) are awesome as well. I call Karla my angel, she is the earthiest, kindest, most soft spoken, gentlest, giving, beautiful, loving spirit I have ever known. There is nothing she would not do for her patients. I am confident that all will go well with my surgery, because I could not, in my opinion; be in better care anywhere else with anyone else. I know we aren't suppose to rate excellent on everything. But honestly I cannot think of anything negative to say about the doctors or their staff.rnrnrn**This is my insurance info**rnrnAetna, PPOrnI actually changed insurance from Coventry Health (HMO) to Aetna PPO in January 2003. Coventry would not pay for this surgery, they deem it \"cosmetic surgery\". It is amazing to me how many insurance companies are so ignorant still of the plight of the morbidly obese. Or maybe they just don't care. Probably they just don't care. Well, I switched to Aetna PPO as soon as possible, which was the beginning of the year, because they do pay for this surgery. I had a co worker that had the surgery in 2000 and she had Aetna PPO. So, I knew I would be okay with this insurance. I couldn't believe they turned me down on my first application. They had a new clause in the plan. Not only did you have to be 100 pounds overweight and have a doctor deem this medically neccesary; but you have to within the previous 2 years have 6 months of doctor supervised weight loss and excercise program. So, even though I had been fighting my weight my entire life, and had tried every diet and excercise program under the sun. I still had not had what they wanted. So, they denied me. Well, long story short. I got them on appeal with a technicality. Since I switched insurance at the beginning of the year there was a delay getting authorized for surgery. This new clause went into effect January 17th, so on appeal we contested that I had tried to get authorization prior to the new clause. I guess they felt that was the case because shortly after my appeal I got approval. So, for anyone else that has Aetna PPO bottom line is YOU MUST BE 100 POUNDS OVERWEIGHT, HAVE A DOCTOR DEEM SURGERY A MEDICAL NECCESSITY, AND HAVE 6 MONTHS OF DOCTOR OVERSEEN DIET AND EXCERCISE IN THE PREVIOUS 2 YEARS BEFORE SUBMITTING FOR SURGERY. Hope this helps someone else. Actually, I am glad that in the end they are paying.~ rn
Member Interests
  • Books & Literature - I love reading! I like just about any kind of books (except sports..lol).
  • Computers & Internet - I'm on the computer a lot, but I'm not very literate. I'm learning constantly.
  • Travel - I haven't traveled much in the past. But that's going to change!! :-D
  • Theater - I love our community theater and try to catch every show with my sis.
  • Meeting People - I always enjoy meeting new people with common interests.
  • Parenting - I have two boys 7 & 9 and I can always use parental feedback raising them.
  • Walking - I try to walk as much as I can. It's a great feeling to be able to walk again.
  • Spanish - My family is from Spain, so I'm trying to learn the language.
  • BMI over 50 - Mine was much higher before WLS, would like to meet others with the same.
  • WLS Grads - I am now 3 1/2 years out and it's a struggle. I like the commraderie of grads.

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by anastacha63 on 1/7/07 12:40 am
    05/28/2005 03:16 PM HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Carmen! Here's hoping life is all you want it to be! Sure do miss you! Hugs, Toots — Dame Tooter - OH Staff 06/26/2003 11:04 AM Hi carmen, I don't think we have actually taked to each other at the meetings. I know you are one of the twins though - that is so cool that the two of you had it done. I have been at all the meetings except one since January. I was the girl who sat in the corner by the door next to the lady in the wheelchair. I was less than 1 week post-op at the June meeting. I will be 5 weeks post-op by the next July meeting. I was definitely glad to gt my GT out. It was so annoying. I had some trouble with mine leaking a little around the site. Anyway - I am feeling much better. Wakling again, swimming, and driving - yeah! I promise to come over and introduce myself at the next meeting OK. You can e-mail me if you want to. Talk to you soon. — Julie Shrank 05/31/2003 06:09 PM Congrats on making it to the losing side and I hope you have a speey and painless recovery. — Justin From the Ham 05/29/2003 01:13 PM Carmen...I'm thinkin' of you sweetie!!!!! Keep pushin' that button and get up and walk!!!! BIG, BIG HUGS!! — Deanna K 05/27/2003 11:16 AM In all things Remember,that the one above loves you,that He holds us all in his loving arms,He knows each of us by name.He said anything you ask for in "my name" will be given to you.So in His name I pray for you,that you be given strength, endurance,love,peace and most of all long life.In Jesus' name. When you wake up and see the faces of your loved ones in the recovery room,know that you have made it.Thank Him,Know that you have been blessed to see and to live out the rest of your days with the ones you love and the ones who love you.....Knowing that He loves you too. Happy soon to be ReBirthday. — Tracy W 05/27/2003 05:26 AM My prayers will be with you as you go through the surgery and recovery. May your strength be restored; your recovery be swift and your tender heart be renewed. — Melissa Smith 05/23/2003 08:22 PM Carmen - Best wishes for an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery. May God hold you and your surgery team in his precious hands. — Debbie Beatty 05/17/2003 10:10 AM Carmen... CONGRATS on having a date and all that good stuff... You and I are starting out at pretty much the same weight or same ballpark anyway & my date is for 6/18!! Godspeed to your new losing side and may He keep you in His hands & take care of you as I'm praying He take care of me as well!! :-) — Amy G 05/14/2003 07:59 AM Many prayers and thoughts are being sent to you for a safe and uneventful journey. 7/10/02OPEN RNY — Ms. Rhonda 05/11/2003 07:27 AM May god bless and keep you though this journey.. His peace and love strengthen you.. keep looking up when all you want to do is hide.. his grace is sufficient for the day....His word says he will never leave you nor forsake you... Hugs — Donna Angel 05/11/2003 06:28 AM Carmen - My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and friends as you journey to the loosing side. Mommamere — Virginia Hanson 05/10/2003 10:21 PM Hello everyone sisters and brothers suffering from obesity. I am doing well. I can't believe it is only 18 days until I am on the losing side. I can't wait to be a loser. lol. I had my pre-op tests done on May 5th. All went well. At least I haven't heard to the contrary. My edg was a breeze. Really you guys anyone who has to go through pre-op and have these tests ran, it truly isn't that bad. The nursing staff and everyone is so comforting and takes such good care of you. And, nothing is bad. I was actually quite relaxed. My weight has been going down, down, down,..yeah! At my consult on April 1st. I weighed in at 381, now actually this was down from 398 at the beginning of the year. Well, Dr. Stevens said he would like to see me lose another 30 pounds prior to surgery. I told him "I can do that." Well, on pre-op day my weight was 366, so in 21 days that was 15 pounds down. And, I just keep going. So, I feel just great going in. I've been keeping active since my consult knowing this will only help me afterward. Also, I cut all the sugar out of my diet for lent. Now, I just didn't pick it back up, since I can't have it after surgery anyway. So, I realize this is helping me melt the pounds away. Before I was just a sugar addict. Well, I will keep things updated as they go. Hope everyone stays well. Keep your heads up. And, thanks to all who have posted very nice messages for me, that touches me deeply.~ — Anastacha 05/08/2003 03:37 AM Best wishes and extra prayers for smooth surgery and recovery. A positive mental attitude is your best preparation! You'll do great with this life-saving tool! — Karen Newlife 05/07/2003 03:25 AM Carmen, from another Kansan and fellow Liv-Lite patient, good luck to you on your upcoming surgery! You will be in great hands! Speedy days as your day draws nearer! :-) HUGS!!! — Click Part 2 04/29/2003 10:57 AM Hello Carmen~~“Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” William Jennings Bryan. I am wishing you all the best for the next chapter of the rest of your life. Take care, Becca...AGB 9/16/02 -107 — Becca K 04/29/2003 10:19 AM Hi there, CONGRATULATIONS, you are on your way now to the losing side. Best wishes to you on your wls. I'm praying for your speedy recovery and you having NO complications what so ever. Hang in there and remember everyday is a blessing. ~~Huggybear hugs~~ — Naes Wls Journey 04/29/2003 12:19 AM HI CARMEN I just want you to know that I am praying that everything will go smooth as you journey to the losing side. LORD BLESS — Momma Angel
  • Comment by anastacha63 on 1/1/07 10:35 am
    Bear with me everyone! I'm trying to get all my info transferred here to my new profile..love youse all!!
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Carmen's Musings
Use caution when proceeding ;-)


Taking Responsibility ---- 12/04/2007
on December 4, 2007 9:59 am


      I can't believe it's been 6 months since I've updated here. How time flies by. Life just seems to get busier and busier. Anyway life is going okay right now. I still have ups and downs just like I did when I was 400 pounds but now I can't eat them away. I can't stuff them anymore. 

     This is part of the reason I'm talking about responsiblity. I was watching a commercial the other day for some miracle drug for weight loss. The claim was that you just take the pill and it does all the work for you. You don't have to change your lifestyle at all to lose weight. The moderator was making all sorts of excuses why we gain weight as we age. None of them began with not exercising and eating all the wrong things. It just made me step back and I felt this feeling of disgust run through me. How can anyone hang on to such false hope that they would actually think that without a lifestyle change and just by taking a pill they are going to lose the excess weight? I'm not panning other people really I know there are a lot of people out there that think I took the easy way out with the surgery. Well I won't even go into defending that, I don't have to anymore. What I am getting at is that we all need to take responsiblity for our failures. If we lay the blame elsewhere then we can't get better. The day I sat down and told myself that I was blowing up like a balloon because I couldn't stop putting food in my face, not because of some biological error is the day I started on the road to recovery. It's been a tough road. I've had to work just as hard to lose the weight  now as before I had surgery. I will give the surgery it's due, it gave me a tool to use in the process of getting better. But ultimitely it was me and me alone that could make the decisions to eat right and exercise. It's not easy now and it will never be easy. The day I reach my goal will just be another day that I need to watch what I put in my mouth and do my work out. Even then I know I can't let my guard down. There will never be a day that I won't struggle with my addiction. 
  
     Okay, done with that. I'll update you on where I am now  weight wise. I have lost 70 pounds so far this year. At times it was slow but I didn't give up or give in. I still have a long way to go. I would like to lose about another 90 pounds and then look into plastics. I really don't want to wait another year to have plastics but it may have to wait that long if I can't lose those next 90 pounds fairly quickly. It is what it is, I'll be okay no matter what. That comes out very easy right now but I know that always just under the surface is the urge to overeat and fall back into old habits. I'll just have to continue to take it one day at a time. 

Be kind to one another
Carmen
400+/365/207/120
     
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